RDR2 Weapons Expert 7: Why Your Tomahawk Kills Aren't Counting

Man, the RDR2 Weapons Expert 7 challenge is a nightmare. Honestly, it’s one of those tasks in Red Dead Redemption 2 that sounds simple on paper but turns into a massive headache because of how the game tracks "consecutive" kills. You’re told to kill four consecutive enemies by throwing and retrieving the same tomahawk. Sounds easy, right? Just play catch with a skull.

But then you do it, and the notification doesn't pop. You kill a second guy. Still nothing. You’re basically screaming at Arthur Morgan while some O’Driscoll lofts a repeater round into your hat.

The reality is that this challenge is buggy, or at least incredibly picky about its logic. If you've been struggling with your counter resetting or not starting at all, you aren't alone. It’s arguably the most frustrating rank in the Weapons Expert tree because of the "same tomahawk" requirement.

The Secret Math of Weapons Expert 7

Here is the thing most guides don't emphasize enough: you actually need to kill five enemies, not four.

The game logic works like this: the first kill establishes which tomahawk is "the one." The "consecutive" count only starts once you retrieve that specific axe and land the second kill. If you’re checking your challenge log and seeing 0/4 after your first kill, don't panic. That’s actually normal. You won't see 1/4 until that second body hits the dirt.

👉 See also: Mississippi Cash 4 Predictions: Why Most Players Get It Wrong

Why Your Progress Keeps Resetting

It is incredibly easy to accidentally reset your progress without even realizing it. The game is a stickler for the "consecutive" rule. If you do any of these things, the counter drops back to zero immediately:

• Missing a throw: If that tomahawk hits a tree, a rock, or the ground instead of a human, you’re back to square one.
• Using the wrong axe: If you have three tomahawks in your inventory and you throw one, then accidentally throw a different one from your stack before picking up the first, you’re done.
• Non-enemy kills: Accidentally hitting a goat, a dog, or a "white dot" NPC who hasn't turned "red dot" hostile yet will break the chain.
• Meleeing: If you get too close and Arthur performs a melee execution instead of a throw, it usually won't count toward the throwing requirement.
• Switching to a gun: Some players report that even aiming a sidearm between kills can occasionally glitch the tracker, though this is debated. To be safe, keep the tomahawk in your hand the whole time.

The "One Tomahawk" Strategy

The absolute best way to ensure you don't mess this up is to get rid of your inventory. Go to a fence and sell your tomahawks until you have exactly one. Or, better yet, go find a tree in the middle of nowhere and chuck all your tomahawks into it except for one.

Pro Tip: Use the Ancient Tomahawk. Since you can only ever carry one of these, it’s impossible to accidentally throw a "different" axe. You can find the Ancient Tomahawk embedded in a target on the east side of Calumet Ravine, just north of Wapiti.

By only having one axe, Arthur is forced to retrieve it before he can throw again. This removes the risk of the game auto-equipping a fresh tomahawk from your satchel while the first one is still stuck in someone’s ribcage.

Best Locations to Get It Done

You need "enemies," which basically means red dots on the map. Random civilians don't count unless they start shooting back, and at that point, you’re dealing with Lawmen, which makes retrieving your axe way harder.

1. The Hanging Dog Ranch Method

This is the gold standard for RDR2 challenges. The O'Driscolls (or Laramie Gang later on) at Hanging Dog Ranch are perfect targets. There’s a guy usually standing by himself near the front gate or the barn.

1. Sneak up, deadeye the headshot.
2. Run in, grab the axe.
3. Ride away until the red blur on your map vanishes.
4. Turn around and go back. The guard will have respawned.

It's tedious, but it's safe. It's much better than trying to survive a 10-on-1 shootout while you're running around trying to find a small piece of metal in the grass.

2. The Van Horn Lighthouse Strategy

If you want to feel like a movie villain, head to Van Horn. Start a fight in the tavern or just antagonize someone until the whole town turns red. Run to the lighthouse at the edge of town and climb the first ladder.
The NPCs in Van Horn are notoriously aggressive, but they’re also pretty dumb. They will climb that ladder one by one. You just stand at the top, wait for a head to pop up, and throw. Since they're falling right at your feet, retrieving the axe takes half a second.

3. The "Hogtie" Cheese

If you’re really struggling with the "missing your throw" part, just use your lasso. Find a small gang camp (the ones with 4 or 5 guys). Use Potent Health Tonics, run in, and hogtie everyone.
Once they’re all squirming on the ground, line them up like cordwood. Stand two feet away so you can’t possibly miss, throw the axe, pick it up, and move to the next guy. It’s a bit gruesome, sure, but it's the most reliable way to finish the challenge without a reset.

Step-by-Step Execution

To make sure this works on your first try today, follow this exact sequence:

1. Empty your inventory: Carry only one tomahawk (Ancient or Homing is best).
2. Find your targets: Head to a gang hideout like Six Points Cabin or Shady Belle.
3. Drink a Tonic: You’re going to be a sitting duck while you run to retrieve your axe. Use a Gold Health bar.
4. The First Kill: This is the "primer" kill. Throw, kill, and retrieve.
5. The Streak: Now the real work begins. Use Dead Eye for every single throw. Aim for the head or the chest to ensure a one-hit kill. If they don't die instantly, the streak might break.
6. Retrieve immediately: Don't get distracted by other enemies shooting at you. Get that axe back into your hand immediately.

Once you hit that fourth consecutive kill (the fifth kill total), you’ll see the notification for Weapons Expert 8. This unlocks the Weapons Expert Off-Hand Holster at the Trapper, which is a nice little trophy for your effort.

What to Do Next

After you've finally put this challenge behind you, you're perfectly positioned to knock out Weapons Expert 8. That one requires 15 kills with a long-barreled sidearm. Since you're likely already at a gang hideout or in a town like Van Horn where people are shooting at you, just swap to your customized Volcanic Pistol or Schofield with the long barrel and start clearing the room. It’s significantly less stressful than the tomahawk run.

If you're going for 100% completion, remember to head to a Trapper afterwards to buy your reinforced gear. Completing these challenges is the only way to max out Arthur’s (or John’s) secondary attribute bars.

Check your progress in the Player > Challenges > Weapons Expert menu frequently. If you see the "Current Streak" reset to zero, stop, take a breath, and go back to the hogtie method. It saves a lot of' broken controllers.

Actionable Insight: If the challenge still feels stuck, restart your game. RDR2's cache can sometimes get "sticky" with challenge tracking, and a fresh reload often forces the script to recognize your kills properly. Make sure the "enemy" is fully hostile (red dot) before the axe leaves your hand.